Chrysanthemum plant named Samba

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named Samba having anemone flower form, while ray florets and bright yellow funnelshaped disc florets, very compact and freely branching growth habits, eight week response, and a very floriferous habit.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofDendranthema grandiflora, commonly referred to as Chrysanthemum andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Samba.

Samba is a product of a planned breeding program which had the objectiveof creating new chrysanthemum cultivars having anemone flower form;compact, freely branching habit; early flower response; white ray floretcolor, excellent low light, cool weather performance, and being suitablefor year around pot mum programs. Such traits in combination were notpresent or needed improvement in previously available commercialcultivars.

Samba was originated from a hybridization made by applicant in acontrolled breeding program in Parrish, Fla. in 1984. The female parentwas Illini Windmill. The male parent of Samba was Frosty, disclosed inU.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,491. Samba was discovered and selected as oneflowering plant within the progeny of the stated parentage by applicanton Dec. 30, 1984 in a controlled environment in Parrish, Fla.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Samba was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in February,1985 in a controlled environment in Parrish, Fla. by a technicianworking under formulations established and supervised by Peter S. Hesse.Horticultural examination of selected units initiated in November, 1985has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as hereindisclosed for Samba are firmly fixed and are retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

Samba has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions.The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment suchas temperature, light intensity, and day length. The followingobservations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown inParrish, Fla. under greenhouse conditions which approximate thosegenerally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Samba, which in combination distinguish thischrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Anemone flower form, white ray florets and bright yellow discflorets.

2. Diameter across capitulum of 5-6.5 cm.

3. Diameter of disc of 2.3-3.2 cm.

4. Ray florets 15-28 mm in length and 6-10 mm in width.

5. Disc florets funnelshaped and 6-13 mm in length.

6. Very compact growth habit.

7. Freely branching.

8. Medium green foliage.

9. Eight (8) week flower response.

10. Very floriferous habit.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to Samba is the paternal parent Frosty. Incomparison to Frosty, Samba has a one week earlier flower response,higher flower count, and performs better under winter conditions. Theflower color and form of Samba are similar to those same characteristicsof Frosty.

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical inflorescence andfoliage characteristics of Samba, with colors being as nearly true aspossible with illustrations of this type. The photograph is in black andwhite, with the discs of several flowers being colored to accuratelydepict true color. The white ray florets are shown in their actualcolor.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determinedbetween 11:30 and 11:45 a.m. on Jan. 5, 1988 under fluorescent light atParrish, Fla.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dendranthema grandiflora, cv. Samba.

Commercial.--Anemone pot mum.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Anemone.

Diameter across face.--5-6.5 cm.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--White.

Color (upper surface).--155D.

Color (lower surface).--155D.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--6A-B.

Color (immature).--Yellow-green.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present in disc florets only.

Gynoecium.--Present in both disc and ray florets.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--26 cm from the top of soil; height may vary depending upongrowing conditions and cultural practices.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--137A.

Color (lower surface).--137D.

Shape.--Ovate, lobed with serrate margins.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant namedSamba, as illustrated and described, and parts thereof.